🥑 Avocado & Khus Mojito

Brugal Rum, fresh avocado, muddled mint, vetiver (khus) syrup & lime

Light Rum (Brugal Extra Dry)
8 min
Blend + build
Highball or Collins Glass
~12%
Sona
Ingredients
  • 50ml Brugal Extra Dry white rum (or any light rum)
  • ¼ ripe Hass avocado, diced
  • 8–10 fresh mint leaves
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • 20ml khus (vetiver) syrup — available at Indian grocery stores as RoohAfza Khus variant
  • Soda water to top
  • Crushed ice
  • Mint sprig, lime wheel & avocado slice to garnish
Method
  1. 1
    BlendBlend avocado with rum and a splash of water until completely smooth — no lumps.
  2. 2
    MuddleIn a Collins glass, muddle mint leaves with lime juice and khus syrup.
  3. 3
    CombineAdd the avocado-rum blend to the glass. Stir to combine.
  4. 4
    IcePack with crushed ice.
  5. 5
    TopTop with soda water. Garnish with mint sprig, lime wheel, and avocado slice.

About This Cocktail

Sona opened in New York's Flatiron District in 2021 as co-founder Priyanka Chopra Jonas's showcase of modern Indian cuisine. The cocktail programme, built around Indian botanicals and techniques, pushed the boundaries of the mojito format with this drink. Khus (vetiver) syrup — the earthy, cooling, intensely aromatic grass root syrup that has been used in Indian cooling drinks for centuries — replaces simple syrup. The avocado (muddled into the base) provides a richness and body that makes this feel less like a cocktail and more like a drinking dessert.

Variations

Guacamole MojitoAdd 1 thin slice of jalapeño to the muddle and a pinch of coarse salt — the lime-avocado-chili combination is pure guacamole energy
Avocado Daiquiri (Indian)Blend avocado + rum + khus syrup + lime — serve without soda for a frozen daiquiri
Gin VersionReplace rum with a dry gin (Tanqueray, Hendrick's) — the gin botanicals + avocado + vetiver is a remarkable combination
Bartender Tips

Use very ripe avocado (it should give when pressed) for the creamiest result. The avocado oxidises quickly — make and serve immediately. Khus syrup has an earthy, woody, cooling flavour completely unlike anything in the Western pantry — it is one of India's most under-exported culinary ingredients. If unavailable, lychee or elderflower syrup gives a floral substitute (very different but equally interesting).

Source Restaurant
Restaurant
Sona, Flatiron District, New York City (restaurant closed June 2026; recipe preserved)
Spirit
Light Rum (Brugal Extra Dry)
Method
Blend + build
ABV
~12%
Rum Guide All Indian Cocktails Indian Mocktails Cocktails A–Z
Where to drink this
Restaurant
Sona Permanently Closed
Address
Flatiron District, New York City (permanently closed June 2026)
Style
Modern Indian fine dining
Accolades
Michelin Bib Gourmand · celebrated cocktail programme before closure

Sona was one of New York City's most acclaimed modern Indian restaurants, co-owned by model and restaurateur Priyanka Chopra Jonas. Known for its nuanced interpretation of Indian cuisine and a cocktail programme that treated Indian ingredients with genuine respect, Sona closed in June 2026. These recipes preserve the drinks that made it special.